Nidhi (Sanskrit: निधि, romanized: nidhi) is a Sanskrit term meaning, "treasure". It is generally used to indicate the nine treasures called navanidhi (Sanskrit: नवनिधि, romanized: navanidhi) belonging to Kubera, the god of wealth. According to tradition, each nidhi is personified as having a guardian spirit, with some Tantrikas worshipping them. The nature and characteristics of nidhis have remained largely unexplained and have not been fully understood.
Description
According to the Amarakosha and the Padma Purana, the nine nidhis are:
| Name | Meaning | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Mahapadma | "great lotus flower" | Twofold Himalayan lake |
| Padma | "lotus flower" | Himalayan lake |
| Shankha | "conch" | Conch shell |
| Makara | "crocodile" | black antimony |
| Kacchapa | "tortoise" | turtleshell |
| Mukunda | "a particular precious stone" | quicksilver |
| Kunda | "jasmine" | arsenic |
| Nila | "sapphire" | antimony |
| Kharva | "dwarf" | firebaked vessel |
References
- The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume VII: Uttarakāṇḍa. Princeton University Press. 11 September 2018. p. 577. ISBN 978-0-691-18292-6.
- Walker, Benjamin (9 April 2019). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 615. ISBN 978-0-429-62421-6.
- Bhatt, G. P.; Deshpande, N. A. (1 January 2013). The Padma-Purana Part 10: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 48. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 3290. ISBN 978-81-208-3915-1.
Sources
- A Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Dowson
- A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature, by John Dawson, page 221
- Amarakosha, ed. W. L. Shastri Pansikar, v. 142
- Megha-duta, collected works, iv. 372. verse 534
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